Mouthpiece device



June 10, 1952 J. SAGE 2,600,025

MOUTHPIECE DEVICE Filed March 9, 1948 spaced in vertical alignment on the central portion of the device, as shown in Fig. 6. Said fasteners are adapted to detachably, hold the pads in position and against accidental displacement, and may be varied as to size and configuration in accordance with particular operating requirements.

It will be apparent therefore, that the details of the device may be varied in accordance with the particular manner of use without departing from the spirit of the invention; and it will be apparent that various structural modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental device adapated to be inserted into the vestibule of an oral cavity and to engage the teeth and gums of a wearer, which comprises a flexible frame including a central solid web portion and spaced finger-like projections extending oppositely from the central web portion, a soft, resilient pad mounted on the flexible frame adapted to engage and overlie the teeth and gums of the wearer, the said pad extending peripherally beyond all peripheral portions of the frame member, the frame member and resilient pad being adapted to be adjusted in contour to the shape of the mouth of the wearer, the solid web portion and the finger-like portions of the flexible frame preventing insertion of a finger into the mouth of the wearer of the device, and means extending inwardly from the pad for preventing tongue-protrusion of the wearer, the said means extending through the open bite between the teeth ofthe wearer.

2. A dental device adapted to be inserted into the vestibule of an oral cavity and to engage the teeth and gums of a wearer, which device comprises a flexible frame including a central solid web portion and spaced pairs of finger-like projections oppositely extending from the guard web, a layer of soft pliable material mounted on the frame and covering one side of the frame that forms the inner side of the frame when in use, pairs of snap fastening means on the opposite side of the frame secured thereto one above another, a resilient pad secured to each pair of fastening means and adapted to engage the lips when the device is in service, and means in the resilient pads for preventing displacement of the pads from the fastening means.

3. A dental device adapted to be inserted into the vestibule of an oral cavity and to engage the teeth and gums of a wearer, which device comprises a flexible frame including a central solid web portion and spaced pairs of finger-like projections oppositely extending from the guard web, a layer of soft pliable material mounted on the frame and covering one side of the frame that forms the inner side of the frame when in use, pairs of snap-fastening means on the opposite side of the frame secured thereto one above another, a resilient pad secured to each pair of fastening means and adapted to engage the lips when the device is in service, and slots in the resilient pads adapted to receive the fastening means and to fit thereover for preventing displacement of the pads from the fastening means.

4. A dental device adapted to be inserted into the vestibule of an oral cavity and to engage the teeth and gums of a wearer and to be retained in position by pressure between the cheeks and upper and lower gums of the wearer, which device comprises a flexible backing frame including a central continuous web portion and spaced pairs of finger-like projections oppositely extending from the web portion and being substantially coextensive with the upper and lower gums of the wearer, a layer of soft pliable cushioning material mounted on the frame and covering at least one side of the frame that forms the gum-engaging side of the frame when in use, and fastening means for the cushioning layer engaging the backing frame for securing the cushioning layer in position on the backing frame.

5. A dental device adapted to be inserted into the vestibule of an oral cavity and to engage the teeth and gums of a wearer, which device comprises a flexible backing frame including a central continuous web portion covering and bridging the forward oral space between the upper and lower teeth and gums and lips of the wearer, spaced pairs of finger-like projections oppositely extending from the central web and extending around the upper and lower gums of the wearer between the gums and checks and being substantially coextensive with the gums, a layer of soft pliable cushioning material mounted on the frame and covering at least one side of the frame that forms the inner side of the frame when in use, and fastening means for securing the cushioning layer to the frame while enabling removal of the cushioning layer from the frame for cleaning purposes.

6. A dental device adapted to be inserted into the vestibule of an oral cavity and to engage the teeth and gums of a wearer, which device comprises a flexible frame including a central solid web portion and spaced pairs of substantially parallel finger-like projections oppositely extending from the said solid web as sides of deep indentations in the ends of the said frame, and a layer of soft pliable material mounted on the frame and covering completely at least one side of the frame, the layer of soft pliable material having a configuration similar to that of the frame but extending beyond the frame laterally and longitudinally thereof, and being adapted to engage both the upper and lower teeth and gums of a wearer and uniformly engaging and conforming to the upper and lower jaw portions of the vestibule of the wearer, the central solid web member forming an uninterrupted bridge spanning the frontal space between the upper and lower teeth and gums for preventing introduction of a finger into the mouth during wearing of the device, while the finger-like projections of the frame and of the covering material therefor retain the device in the mouth of the wearer by engagement thereof with the upper and lower teeth and gums of the wearer.

JOHN SAGE.

REFERENQES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Glaser Oct. 14, 1941 

